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Indiana confirms 15th measles case

Public health officials in Indiana recently confirmed a 15th case of the measles in the central portion of the state.

Although all of the previous cases occurred in either Boone or Hamilton counties, located north of Indianapolis, the Indiana State Department of Health declined to specify where the newly confirmed case is located, according to IndyStar.com.

The health department said that the new case does not pose any increased public health threat because the individual has been in self-isolation since being exposed to the highly contagious respiratory illness.

"Through our investigation, we were made aware that this individual was exposed and may be at high risk for developing the disease," State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin said, WANE.com. reports. "This is good news, because since we knew about the exposure and risk, this person was able to stay home and avoid exposing anyone else while infectious."

An Indiana school district recently refused to allow unvaccinated students to attend classes in the wake of the outbreak. This is the second measles outbreak in Indiana in less than a year.

"In general, when we experience measles in the United States, it's a result of an unvaccinated U.S. resident traveling abroad or a foreign visitor from a part of the world where measles is endemic," Larkin said, according to WANE.com.